Apparatus for disentangling tangled springs and the like



Feb. 1, 1966 F. BRADLEY STEVENS 3,232,450

APPARATUS FOR DISENTANGLING TANGLED SPRINGS AND THE LIKE Filed April 10,1964 F. BRADLEY STEVENS BY Jade/mm, w a mwwmlh ATTORNEYS i United StatesPatent Ofiice 3,232,450 Patented Feb. 1, 1966 3,232,450 APPARATUS FQRBKSENTANGLlNG TANGLED PRENGS AND THE LIKE F. Bradley Stevens, Ann Arbor,Mich, assignor to Associated pring Corporation, Bristol, (101211., acorporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 358,822 11 Claims.(Cl. 214-1) This invention relates broadly to articles of manufacturesuch as springs, electric heating coils, and the like, which are formedof Wire or rod coiled into helical shape, and to the manufacture andprocessing thereof, and more particularly to means for separating two ormore of such articles which have become entangled and tightly meshedwith one another. In this specification and in the appended claims allsuch articles of manufacture of helical formwill be referred to by thegeneric term springs.

Any such springs, particularly those having spaced convolutions, maybecome entangled with one another when thrown together as they usuallyare in the several stages of manufacture and during bulk shipment to thepoint of use, the usual entanglement being in side-by-side relation withthe convolutions of the two springs interleaved and often, or usually,with the springs an angularly related positions. The tangled springsmust be separated for use or for the performance of secondaryoperations, which separation adds to the cost of the springs, regardlessof whether it is done before or after delivery by the manufacturer tothe user.

It has accordingly been the object of this invention to provide a simpleand effective device for separating the tangled springs of a cluster.The disentangling means provided by the invention may be associated withany means for separating single springs from tangled clusters ofsprings, such, for example, as apparatus by which the springs are fedcontinuously to the disentangler as they come from a bulk supply ofsprings, or from any other source, and which may be operative to rejectthe single, untangled springs and accept all clusters of tangled springsfor separation by the disentangling device provided by the invention.

Description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of thedevice provided by the invention for separating the tangled springs of acluster of interleaved helical springs;

FIG. 2 is an end view of parts shown in FIG. 1, taken on line 22 of FIG.1, and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views each showing a cluster of twotangled springs in possible positions on the supporting rollers formingpart of the separating device provided by the invention, andillustrating the operation thereof.

The invention provides means. for supporting each cluster of tangledsprings and positioning it for engagement by a device which separatesthe tang-led springs; A, B of the cluster. This supporting andpositioning device comprises two rollers 2, 4- which are supported bysuitable means in parallel, side-by-side relation, laterally spacedapart with roller 4 slightly below the other roller 2, the lateralspacing between the rollers being such that a cluster of helical springof the size being manufactured or handled will be supported by the tworollers, all as most clearly illustrated in FIG. 2. The upper roller 2is not mounted for rotation but will be referred to as a roller in thisspecification. Roller 4 is mounted for rotation and is connected by apulley 6 and belt 8 to some means, such as an electric motor forimparting rotation to it in such a direction that its upper part movesaway from the upper, non-rotating roller 2. The outer surface of roller4 is polished and smooth throughout the greater part of its length andat its one end is circumferentially recessed and the recess is filledwith an annular ring of friction material 10, the outer surface of whichis below the outer surface of the remainder of the roller.

The means provided by the invention for engaging and. separating the twosprings of a cluster supported on the rollers 2, 4 are particularlydisclosed in FIG. 1 and com prise a two pronged lance device consistingof two parallel laterally spaced rod-like lances 20, 22 which aremounted, One above the other, on a head 24 carried by the rod 26 of apiston 28 mounted for reciprocal movement in a cylinder 30 which issupplied with compressed air or hydraulic fluid through pipes 32, 34.The two lances and the supporting and reciprocating structure are somounted that the lances are parallel to the upper support ingsurfaces ofthe rollers 2, 4 and are normally spaced outwardly therefrom so thatwhen the lances are moved toward the rollers the lower lance 29' willenter the lower one of two tangled springs of the cluster while theupper lance 22 will enter the upper spring. The lower lance 29 is longerthan the upper lance 22 and has a pointed end provided by an upwardlyfacing bias surface 36. The outer end of the upper lance 22 is alsopointed and. this pointed end part is bent downwardly toward the, lowerlance 20, providing an outwardly and downwardly inclined. leading edgesurface 38' at the outer end of this lance. The outside diameter of thelower lance 20 is approximately equal to, but slightly less than, theinside. diameter of the springs being. processed, While the upper lance22 has a much smaller outside diameter.

Adjacent and spaced from the ends of the rollersv 2, 4 opposite to theends from which the lances approach, there is provided a vertical stopplate 40 against which the cluster of springs supported by the rollersis moved by the lances, thus facilitating the. entry of the lances intothe springs and preventing the springs from being moved axially from therollers. The stop plate may be provided with openings 42, 44 throughwhich the. lances may pass.

Operation A cluster of two tangled springs A and B which is to besubjected to separation by means provided bythisinvention is positionedon the roller 2, 4, as shown in- FIGS. 1 and 2. The delivery of such acluster to these rollers may be accomplished in a varietyof means: anddevices which do not form part of this invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings there is shown a: cluster of twotangled springs A, B properly positioned on: the rollers 2, 4 forseparation by the lance devices. It will be seen that in this positionof the cluster spring A lies on and nestles between the roller withitsaxis parallel to those of the rollers. If the cylinder and piston:apparatus 28, se is operated the lower lance 20 Will? enter spring: Aand' substantially fill it, and the bias face 36.- forming the leadingedge of this lance will engage the: outer surface of the second spring Band force't-his spring; outwardly of spring B. The upper lance 22 nowenters sring B and the inclined leading edge 38 of the upper lanceengages the upper part of the inner surface ofthe upper spring andforces it away from the lower springand' out of engagement therewith.The lance device will then be retracted and the springs will fall freeof each other and of the rollers 2,4, although the springs may beforceably moved from the rollers by some such means as. a blast of air.

As stated above, the disentangling apparatus provided by the inventionand described above may have associated with it any means or device fordelivering clusters of tangled springs to the rollers 2, 4 andpositioning eachcluster thereon for engagement by the lance device.

When springs enmesh, their axes are almost never in parallel alignment,there generally being a considerable angle between the two, nor does acluster of tangled springs always fall on the rollers 2, 4 in the properposition for lancing which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In such cases,before the lower lance of this machince can perform its function, it isnecessary that one spring of the crossed axis pair be moved to aposition parallel with and between the two rollers with the other membermore or less above the first one and pointing diagonally in onedirection or another. This position of the spring cluster is shown inFIG. 1 of the drawings. When a cluster is dropped on to the rollers oneof the members will fall in this desired position nestled between therollers a high proportion of the time.- In this position it isimpossible for the polished rotating surface of roller 4 to exertsuflicient grip to roll the cluster over and out of lancing positionsince any rolling would entail lifting as well, this being the reasonthe surface of roller 4 is hardened and polished. The friction surface10, on the other hand, can do this and therefore it is recessed so thatif the bottom spring of the combination is toward the stop plate ratherthan the lance and nestled between the rollers, it will be supported onthe polished surfaces in a position parallel to and above the frictionsurface, and will not be engaged and rolled.

. In the remainder of the cases the angled cluster falls in either oneof two ways. In the first of these, which is illustrated in FIG. 3, thetwo ends of the cluster point into the opening between the rollers andits nexus lies on top of the lower roller. In this position the tractionsurface 10 operates on the end of one or" the springs, rotating it outof the crevice and causing the other spring, the one nearest the lances,to nestle between the polished surfaces. Rotation of the cluster ceasesimmediately when the one end swings up eccentrically out of contact withthe traction surface. In the second position, which is shown in FIG. 4,the nexus is on the lower roller and the ends of the cluster are up inthe air. Contact with the rotating polished roller is sufficient underthese circumstances to turn the cluster over, since all weight isconcentrated on one or two points, the ends are uninhibited and nolifting is involved. When one end swings around far enough to contactthe lower roller at the stop plate end, the traction surface finishesthe job'as in the first case. Thus, the roller system asdescribed,'exerts a position ameliorating effect on all clusters, whicheffect stops automatically when the cluster is in proper position forentry by the lower lance.

When the bottom spring is nestled, the cluster is not necessarily inposition for the upper lance to enter. The upper spring inside diametermay be located radially with respect to the lower spring anywhere withina 90 to 120 sector and not opposite the upper lance. A full diameterlower lance with a long bias face is necessary for the next stage ofpositioning. The long taper is desirable for reaching under overhangingupper springs, which may project a considerable distance toward thelance, without tipping the cluster out of nestled position. The thinedge is needed for insinuating between the inside diameter of the lowerspring and the coils of a deeply enmeshed upper spring. The bias faceforces the two out of deep mesh into peripheral mesh but, moreimportant, it acts upon the upper spring causing the whole cluster torotate until the upper spring is directly above the bias face and inideal position for the upper lance to enter the lower spring and movethe two springs out of peripheral mesh. If the lower lance were lessthan full diameter, clusters of only shallow mesh would never receivethis orienting action and the upper lance would frequently miss theupper spring. 7

3 While I have described and illustrated one form which my invention maytake, it will be apparent to those skilled in the arts to which itrelates that other emobdiments, as well as modifications of thatdisclosed, may be made and practicedwithout departing in any way fromthe spirit or scope of the invention, for the limits of which referencemust be made to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for separating tangled helical springs and the like,comprising two spaced substantially parallel rodlike lances one of whichis straight and the other of which has an end part bent toward thefirst, means for moving said rods forwardly together in the direction oftheir free end-s and in the reverse direction, and means for supportinga tangled cluster of two laterally interleaved springs in position forthe two springs to be penetrated in generally axial direction, one byeach lance, on the forward movement thereof to thereby separate thesprings.

2. Apparatus for separating tangled helical springs according to claim1, in which the lance which has an end part bent toward the other isshorter than the other.

3. Apparatus for separating tangled helical springs and the likeaccording to claim 1, comprising in addition stop means positioned toengage the end of a tangled cluster of springs to hold the same fromaxial movement as the springs are penetrated by the lances.

4. Apparatus for separating tangled helical springs and the like,comprising two spaced substantially parallel rodlike lances one of whichis straight and the other of which has an end part bent toward thefirst, means for moving said rod forwardly together in the direction oftheir free ends and in the reversedirection, means for supporting atangled cluster of springs in general axial alignment with said lances,means for rotating the supported tangled cluster to a position in whichthe two springs of the cluster are respectively aligned with the twolances, whereby said springs may be penetrated in generally axialdirection, one by each lance, on the forward movement thereof to therebyseparate the springs.

5. Apparatus for separating tangled helical springs and the like,comprising two spaced substantially parallel rodlike lances one of whichis straight and has a biased outer end surface and the other of whichhas an outer end part bent toward the first lance, means for moving saidlances forwardly together in the direction of their outer ends and inthe reverse direction, and means for supporting a tangled cluster of twolaterally interleaved helical springs in position for the two springs tobe penetrated in generally axial direction, one by each lance, on theforward movement thereof to thereby separate the springs.

6. Apparatus for separating tangled helical springs and the like,comprising two spaced substantially parallel rodlike lances one of whichis straight and has a biased outer end surface and the other of whichhas an outer end part bent toward the first lance, means for moving saidlances forwardly together in the direction of their outer ends and inthe reverse direction, said lances being spaced vertically one above theother, the lower lance having a thickness approximately equal to theinside diameter of the springs being processed and having at its outeror leading end an upwardly facing bias'surface disposed at an angle tothe axis of the lance, and means for supporting a tangled cluster of twolaterally interleaved helical springs in position for the'two springs tobe penetrated in generally axial direction, one by each lance, on theforward movement thereof to thereby separate the springs.

7. Apparatus for separating tangled helical springs and the like,comprising two spaced substantially parallel rodlike lances, means formoving said lances forward together in the direction of their outer endsand in the reverse direction, said lances being spaced vertically oneabove the other, the lower lance being straight throughout its lengthand having a thickness approximately equal to the inside diameter of thesprings being processed and having at its outer or leading end anupwardly facing bias surface disposed at an angle to the axis of thelance, the upper lance being of substantially less thickness than thelower lance and being straight throughout substantially all of itslength and at its outer or leading end having an end part bent towardthe lower lance, and means for supporting a tangled cluster of twolaterally interleaved helical springs in position for the two springs tobe penetrated in generally axial direction, one by each lance, on theforward movement thereof to thereby separate the springs.

8. Apparatus for separating tangled helical springs and the like,comprising two spaced substantially parallel rodliite lances one ofwhich is straight and has a biased outer end surface and the other ofwhich has an outer end part bent toward the first lance, means formoving said lances forwardly together in the direction of their outerends and in the reverse direction, and means for supporting a tangledcluster of two laterally interleaved helical springs in position for thetwo springs to be penetrated in generally axial direction, one by eachlance, on the forward movement thereof to thereby separate the springs,said supporting means comprising two parallel coextensive rollerspositioned in substantially side-by-side relation to form surfaces forsupporting a tangled cluster of springs, said rollers being axiallyparallel to said lances and laterally positioned with respect thereto sothat the springs of a tangled cluster supported by said rollers will berespectively aligned with said lances.

9. Apparatus for separatin tangled helical springs and the like,comprising two spaced substantially parallel rodlike lances, said lancesbeing spaced vertically one above the other, the lower lance beingstraight throughout its length and having a thickness approximatelyequal to the inside diameter of the springs being processed and havingat its outer or leading end an upwardly facing bias surface disposed atan angle to the axis of the lance, the upper lance being ofsubstantially less thickness than the lower lance and being straightthroughout substantially all of its length and at its outer or leadingend having and end part bent toward the lower lance, means for movingsaid lances forwardly together in the direction of their outer ends andin the reverse direction, and means for supporting a tangled cluster oftwo laterally interleaved springs in position for the two springs to bepenetrated in generally axial direction, one by each lance, on theforward movement thereof of thereby separate the springs,

said supporting means comprising two parallel coextensive rollerspositioned in substantially side-by-side relation to form surfaces forsupporting a tangled cluster of springs, said rollers being axiallyparallel to said lances and laterally positioned with respect thereto sothat the springs of a tangled cluster supported by said rollers will berespectively aligned with said lances, and means for rotating one ofsaid rollers in such a direction that the upper part thereof moves awayfrom the other roller.

10. Apparatus for separating tangled helical springs and the like,comprising two spaced substantially parallel rodlilte lances one ofwhich is straight and has a biased outer end surface and the other ofwhich has an outer end part bent toward the first lance, means formoving said lances forwardly together in the direction of their outerends in the reverse direction, means for supporting a tangled cluster oftwo laterally interleaved springs in position for the two springs to bepenetrated in generally axial direction, one by each lance, on theforward movement thereof to thereby separate the springs, saidsupporting means comprising two parallel coextensive rollers positionedin substantially side-by-side relation to form surfaces for supporting atangled cluster of springs, said rollers being axially parallel to saidlances and laterally positioned with respect thereto so that the springsof a tangled cluster supported by said rollers may be respectivelyaligned with said lances, and means for rotating one of said rollers insuch a direction that the upper part thereof moves away from the otherroller, one of said rollers having a recessed friction surface at oneend thereof for engaging one of the springs of a tangled cluster torotate the cluster to position the springs of the cluster to bepenetrated by the lances.

11. Apparatus for separating tangled helical springs and the likeaccording to claim It in which the rotating roller is positioned belowand to one side or" the other roller and said other roller isnon-rotatable.

No references cited.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING TANGLED HELICAL SPRINGS AND THE LIKE,COMPRISING TWO SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RODLIKE LANCES ONE OF WHICHIS STRAIGHT AND THE OTHER OF WHICH HAS AN END PART BENT TOWARD THEFIRST, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID RODS FORWARDLY TOGETHER IN THE DIRECTION OFTHEIR FREE ENDS AND IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION, AND MEANS FOR SUPPORTING ATANGLED CLUSTER OF TWO LATERALLY INTERLEAVED SPRINGS IN POSITION FOR THETWO SPRINGS TO BE PENETRATED IN GENERALLY AXIAL DIRECTION, ONE BY EACHLANCE, ON THE FORWARD MOVEMENT THEREOF TO THEREBY SEPARATE THE SPRINGS.